[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Wendy Holladay

To give to award the National stature the founders' intended, Juniors must be the recipients. Like National Merit, by giving it to Juniors, it creates for FRC better recognition world-wide and gives those students a chance to have one more year to help promote FIRST in their region. Awards from any organization promote both the recipient and the awarding organization. All FRC awards should promote students, teams, and FIRST. If you are truly interested in changing the culture, giving this award to Juniors provides the greatest benefit to the students, the teams, and FIRST.

Thank you- this is what I'm trying to say, but you say it much better.

Originally Posted by Dean's List Criteria

FIRST strongly urges teams to nominate a student in his or her junior year as a FIRST Dean’s List Semi-Finalist. While FIRST judges will consider any student nominated by their team as a FIRST Dean’s List Semi-Finalist, this year judges will give preference to students in their junior year when they make their selections to maximize the impact of the FIRST Dean’s List Award for students and colleges/universities supporting FIRST.

Now, on to Barry's.

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

Student C is a junior who dreams to go to one of the prestigious schools which the Dean's List criteria is referencing, however indicates there is no way he/she can afford it without serious financial aid.

Unless you write it into your essay, nobody knows your kid's financial situation. And why, oh why, would you write that into your essay? Spend that word count extolling their virtues instead. I get mentioning that they come from a certain background, as context, but writing out how they can't afford college? The Dean's List is not a scholarship. It can lead to them, but there is a whole page of FIRST Scholarships they can apply for.

The Dean's List Award is to celebrate outstanding leadership. I agree that maybe the focus on technical expertise is a little too much (as a Communications & Digital Media major, I wouldn't say that I've -failed- the mission of FIRST, because I found my passion.) So, yes, maybe that wording gets changed a little.

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

Also, no where does the criteria currently state there is a minimum GPA requirement, however we are required to submit the students' GPA's with the essays. If there is no requirement, why should this be submitted?

I agree, I don't like submitting GPA's either, but my thought is it's there because then you don't have to spend half your essay explaining their situation. It gives context, and maybe even helps explain a turnaround. As Wendy said,

Originally Posted by Wendy Holladay

As to the bad freshman year, I think admissions officers and awards selection people, love a "turnaround" story. Its more compelling than "I was always a 4.0 person". As to perfect SATs, many with 2400s don't get in to the prestigious schools and I work with a women who had a 510 on her english SAT and went to MIT.

So rather than , I'd love to see some additional improvements/suggestions to the Dean's List award.

I'll leave you with the Dean's List criteria to think about.

Originally Posted by Dean's List Criteria

The students who earn FIRST Dean’s List Award status as either a Semi-Finalist, Finalist or Winner will not only be great examples of student leaders who have led their teams and communities to increased awareness for FIRST and its mission all while achieving personal technical expertise and accomplishment, but it is FIRST’s intention that they will continue on, post-award, as great leaders of FIRST’s ever growing student alumni and as advocates of FIRST.